9 | Erling Haaland - 2022/23 Performances

[applejuice]

Yes the team should try to connect with him better.

But you cannot ignore that the whole team was under huge pressure today and everyone was playing very hard.

I feel unfair for the rest of the team to be blamed so harshly. I don't think that they have an easy game. And when they were under attack with a lot of pressure, Halaand was not really able to release the pressure. Not his fault but I don't think that he should blame the others. It is just difficult. You see Bernado and Grealish being surrounded by so many opposite players. Gundo and Mahrez leg gone. Walker and Ake under lots of attack. Rodri flighting everywhere. Maybe they are not specialist as Kevin to put a through ball. It is not something they can magically improve overnight. To be fair, Grealish made one through ball in the 2nd half. But can you drop a bit deep to help them a bit, when seeing Bernado was attacked by 3-4 players?

We scored 0 and 1 goal in the two CL knockout away games last season (I don't count Lisbon in because that team was too weak). It will always be tough to play away games.

I don't like him naming Rodri and Bernado as the ones not passing enough to him in the previous interview. And I really don't like his showing so much frustration towards teammates in the closing minutes of the game. I understand him. But please express it in the dressing room.

Everyone is not perfect. Being a team means not only your teammates need to adapt to you, but you need to adapt to your teammates as well. Bernado and Gundo have a shorter pass range. So could you drop a bit deep to receive the ball, keep it and then we can come up some other tricks?

JFK: Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.

Same for you Erling. Ask not what your team can do for you, ask what you can do for your team.

 

[applejuice]

I don’t think inverted wingers is necessarily the problem. It’s more our inverted wingers that are the issue. Grealish and Mahrez don’t work. Both have their positives, I mean it’s hard to argue with Mahrez form since the WC and Grealish is arguably in his best form since he came to the club. However, as wide forwards as providers for Haaland, they are both fucking useless and it won’t change because it’s exactly how they both play. Want the best out of Haaland? Grealish and Mahrez can’t play wide. If KDB isn’t playing, we might as well drop Haaland and play with a false 9.

If I remember correctly, the only through ball to Halaand came from Grealish. And Mahrez scored the only goal.

 

[yankblue]

Whenever we are lacking creativity like today, I wish we'd play with a "fuck it, Haaland's up there somewhere" mentality and go more direct.

I'm not suggesting we go full Stoke but in a season where we so often look flat and out of ideas - let the Viking do his thing.

He is always going to be the biggest, fastest, and strongest player out there, with the movement and positioning match. Just smash balls up to the bastard and let him eat.

 

[Millennium]

He missed a great opportunity to score the second goal, similar to the last PL game.

 

[Dax777]

Has he exceeded my expectations? Yes.

Did I say that he wasn't a good fit for us stylistically? Yes.

I don't understand how a guy who makes a run at every opportunity is not a good fit. We are simply just playing poor football. Sorry.

 

[WallyA]

If he isn't getting throughballs, then he needs to stop those runs behind.

Drop deep like Benzema and become a false 9, then if the players ask why's he dropping so deep he can then say he wants to play football, not be a traffic cone.

Jokes aside, adding more buildup to his play will only help him, he only lacks those qualities that someone like Benzema has who can strengthen the play of his teammates around him. Once he adds that, he becomes unstoppable, no matter if the team ignores his runs behind.

 

[neel]

 

[dancity19]

He was never going to shine in a game with 80% possession against a team that has parked the bus.

He'll shine against better teams, that dare to attack.

Who are they though? Because the only really top team he has scored against is arsenal? Blanks agains United away and Liverpool away who attack more.

That sounds like a big criticism - it’s not, I just don’t know who the teams that attack more are!!

 

[meeesh]

Looks the most pissed off player in the team,a frustration that could lead to an inevitable departure,sooner than we would like.

Just get some balls through for him,he's lightning,and needs service,he's scored 20 odd goals this season,and should have 30 plus now,feel sorry for him me,I really do

 

[Bazzmand Show]

Good analysis and a lot of this will come with experience, people forget he is still only 22. Kane and Benzema are both 30+ and have a lot more nous then Erling does currently.